"I know you'd be here."
Bon flashed an evil sneer. His eyes were shadowed with murderous intent. Then with force, he held the woman and dragged her outside the slave camp showing no mercy at all.
A while ago, Diana paved her way to the slaves' camp. She was able to pass through the guards since she was wearing the same outfit as them. The people inside the camp were shivering in fear as they saw her. They were all hiding inside their tents but their eyes were shooting daggers at her. Well, she cannot blame them since they cannot see her face.
All eyes were on her when she stopped at a particular tent. Mary! The people's eyes widened in dread. 'Oh, not again.' They mumbled.
Diana was about to enter when some women, both young and old, came to stand in front of the doorway blocking her.
"Please, stop hurting them. They said they don't know where the young miss was." Diana furrowed her brows so she lifted the helmet. The people were stupefied. They cannot believe their eyes!
"Miss! Where have you been? Everyone had been looking for you!" One of the women came forward and held her shoulder.
"I was somewhere…. Safe." There was a hint of guilt in her voice. "W-what happened here?" They all lowered their heads when they remembered all that happened to some of their fellows. One of them motioned her to enter the tent and when she did, her tears were like a river!
She couldn't stop her tears seeing some women lying weakly on the ground-leveled bed. They were all badly wounded. Some were unconscious.
"M-mary!" She staggered as she walked near her. She knelt before the pale looking woman and held her hands. Feebly, Mary opened her eyes and when she saw the young miss, she widened her eyes in terror.
"Young miss! Why are you here? Why did you come here?!" "I'm sorry… I'm sorry!" Her eyes rummaged the old woman's body from head to toe. "What happened to all of you? Who did this to you?" She was clearly angry. "Miss, go back to where you came from. It's too dangerous for you to be here. Don't worry about us, we'll be fine. Your friend, Liam, promised to save us but you… you can't be here!" "Liam? Liam came here?" Mary nodded with a smile on her face. "He was the one who treated us. He's been taking good care of us for the past few days. Now go before that wicked man finds you!" "Who's looking for me? Was he the one who did all of these?" Aside from Mary, four other women were also lying unconscious. They were obviously beaten to death. Whoever did such to them is the worst! "Young miss, just go, please."
Diana shook her head in defiance. "No, Mary. I won't go anywhere. I won't leave you."
"Well, that's the best favor you could ever give to your friends." They heard a familiar voice from behind.
"No! Diana, run!" Mary shivered in fear for the woman's life. "You should know the reason by now as to why they are lying there. It was all because of you. If only you didn't escape." He sneered. "You did these to them? How could you!" Diana stood up to match the man's gaze. "No, Y O U did this to them." He flashed a murderous glow. "I know you'd show yourself here." Then he motioned his men to take the woman away.
"Young miss!" Mary wanted to stand up and defend the woman but she was too weak to do so. Diana was wiggling trying to break away from the men's grasped. "Let me go! I'll walk on my own." "No. I prefer dragging you out for all the inconveniences you caused me." Bon rebutted. "Men, make sure to bind her properly at the town's plaza where everyone can see her. She needed to receive a welcoming gift."
The woman shuddered all of a sudden. She seemingly felt the man's evil intent. "Bon, flogging the woman publicly will reach Kira's attention. He might kill us all!" One of the men protested. "No. He will definitely do the same to tame his future mistress."
The men did as Bon commanded. They tied the woman at the town's center post while Bon ordered his men to bring him the lead-tipped whip he used to hurt the other slaves.
"Everyone, come out and witness what happens when you defy Kira and I. This kind of event must be displayed publicly as a lesson to everyone who wants to go against the group!" Bon yelled on top of his lungs for everyone to hear.
Diana gulped in fear seeing more and more people gathered around her. And the sight of the whip at Bon's hand made her shudder in dread. She must admit she's trembling inside. She could feel the man's hatred towards her. Surely, he won't relent his evil plans against her. Dang it! Oh, how she wanted to cry but she held it in.
"This woman tried to run away but as you all know, no one can ever escape from us. Your life is at the mercy of our hands." He sneered and raised his hand that was holding the whip. Plaaakkkkkkkk! A crisp sound was heard along with the woman's screeching. She was lashed on both leg.
'Ahhhh!' She received another blow. The man must have exerted more strength since the second hit was more painful than the first one. This time, she teared up.
The onlookers watched the shaking woman with pity. They could feel her pain, her fears….
One more time, Bon raised his hand and was about to struck the woman. Diana shut her eyes. 'Ahhhhhh!'
An arrow suddenly hit the man's palm and the whip fell from his grasp. His eyes roamed around to search where the arrow came from while his men surrounded him.
Having the feeling that someone was trying to protect the woman, Bon slowly took the dagger hidden on his waist and was about to attack the tied woman but another arrow hit his leg. He painfully fell on his knees! Dang it!
"Protect the boss at all cost!" Someone among the men shouted. However, arrows come flying from everywhere striking each and every bandit in the area. More men who was left to guard the town came rushing to the plaza when they heard the commotion. Bon spotted the location where the arrows were coming from therefore he ordered some men tried to attack them. "The gates were breached! The town was being attacked!" One of the men reported. "What?" Bon widened his eyes. "Kill that woman!" He was beyond mad.
The men were about to go near and struck her but a certain man, tall and handsome, came to her rescue and fought every man who tried to go near her. Seeing that Drake and the others were already fighting the raiders, Liam turned around and stood in front of the tied woman. "Diana!" He held the woman's chin and lifted her face to meet his eyes. "L-liam?" She uttered weakly, her eyes held unbelief as she teared up. "I'm sorry, I came late." His heart grieved seeing her awful situation. "I'm sorry." He wiped the woman's wet cheeks and touched his forehead to hers.
Liam stood on her side and was untying the rope when Bon came and stood behind him with an evil sneer. In his hand was a dagger ready to hit the man.
"Liam! behind y------!" "Ahhhhhhh!!!!!" A loud scream echoed at the plaza stand as two men fell on the ground. Seeing blood spluttered on the ground, all the fighting men halted at once. No!